Even-Keel at Knecht Cup: Rowing on to Grand Finals

Barry's 4 advanced to Sunday's Grand Finals with an impressive win at the Knecht Cup in Saturday's heat. Photo by Joel Auerbach

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Barry University's No. 1-ranked rowing crew continues to shine in a sport where power, endurance, precision and gracefulness in unison make a team the best.

Right now, the Bucs have validated their stay at the top of the NCAA Division II rowing world. Both the Varsity 8+ and 4+ advanced to Sunday's Grand Finals in their respective races.

The Bucs 8 of coxswain Gracie Horwitz, stroke Kristina Boncheva, Anna Boada, Rosita Boncheva, Monika Kaminska, Beth Desmond, Annais Foppoli, Emma Howard and bow Kelly Harrison won their heat in the Varsity Eight event with a time of 6:56.39, outracing five other Division I crews. Rutgers was 9.56 seconds behind the Bucs, while Connecticut was third, 11.48 seconds in back of Barry.

The Buccaneers won their semifinals race in the Varsity 8 field in 6:35.88. West Virginia was second, 4.42 seconds behind. Temple was third, finishing 10.38 seconds slower than Barry.

"We just wanted to test ourselves against some great competition in a really deep field," Buccaneers coach Dave Sanderson said. "It's really been an incredible day of racing."

Barry's 4 of coxswain Angela Dasch, stroke Kasia Walentynowicz, Mandy Carper, Helene Pierre and bow Rebekah Kilroy won the Club Four DI/DII heat race with a time of 7:51.31. Dowling was second, 8.16 seconds behind Barry. Rollins' A crew was third, 19.41 seconds in back of the Bucs. Barry outraced three Division I schools on its way to the Grand Finals.

"The 4 raced a great race, and they're really fired up for tomorrow," Sanderson said.

Barry's 8 also won the Club Eight DI/DII heat in 7:03.06 to advance to Sunday's Grand Final. The Bucs were 10.11 seconds faster than Philadelphia, and finished 13.82 seconds in front of LaFayette on their way to outracing three Division I crews.